Come out and enjoy an evening with fellow nursery and landscape professionals. The Tampa Chapter of FNGLA is hosting its Winter Social Event on November 10, 2022, from 5:30-9:30 pm. Tickets include dinner and soft drinks with a cash bar and live music. The event will be at the Lemon Orchard in Thonotosassa, FL. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Please call April at 863-617-8396 for tickets.
As an update for those seeking assistance with disaster recovery from Hurricane Ian, there is a good "Disaster at a Glance" information sheet from the USDA showing programs that may offer financial assistance to help ag producers in their recovery efforts. Please check out this link and see what programs might be in place to help you out. farmersgov-disaster-assistance-brochure-07-21-2022.pdf
Also, here is a link to a factsheet on FEMA information for assistance for individuals and households. FEMA LINK
Natural Resource and Conservation Service also posted this information about qualifying for EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) that will help pay for things like fencing, high tunnels, and other conservation and land management practices:
Twenty-seven Florida Counties Identified for USDA Emergency Conservation Program Assistance
GAINESVILLE, FL – October 7, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) can provide payments, through conservation program contracts, for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) conservation practices to help agricultural landowners and producers address disaster related resource concerns on their land. To expedite Hurricane Ian disaster recovery, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is issuing early start waivers in EQIP emergency declaration counties, to allow commencement of key conservation practices prior to conservation program contract approval, announced Juan C. Hernandez, NRCS State Conservationist.
Twenty-seven Florida counties are identified for EQIP Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) Assistance: Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Clay, Collier, Desoto, Flagler, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, and Volusia.
Agricultural producers and landowners interested in submitting an EQIP ECP application, and who are unable to reach their local NRCS office, can contact the NRCS State Office at (352) 338-9500 or email SM.NRCS.FL.DISASTERINFO@USDA.GOV to submit the following information:
Location where assistance is requested (county, city, and major crossroads)
Contact name and email address
Phone number (state if mobile/cell; able to receive calls and/or text messages)
Nature of need for assistance
I have contacted some of you about Hurricane Ian losses sustained last week in the ornamental production sector. For those I have not contacted and would like to report your losses to UF so they can make an economic loss estimate from the storm, there is a link below.
We
need your input!
UF/IFAS
researchers are studying the agricultural losses and damages resulting from
Hurricane Ian. Click on the link below to share information about impacts
experienced at your farm, ranch, or aquaculture operation.
Thank you
for your cooperation.
FDOT Relaxes Restrictions on Transportation
Executive Order 22-218 and Executive Order 22-219 authorized the Department of Transportation to relieve the size and weight restrictions for divisible loads on any vehicles transporting emergency equipment, services, supplies, and agricultural food commodities and citrus in excess of the normal restrictions on weight, height, length, and width for such vehicles. Pursuant to this authority, the Florida Department of Transportation issued an Emergency Road Use Permit letter to permit the movement of divisible loads on any vehicles transporting emergency equipment, services, supplies, and agricultural food commodities and citrus in excess of the normal restrictions on weight, height, length and width. Guidance for Law Enforcement: The following agricultural food commodities and citrus have been identified by the Commissioner of Agriculture and approved by the Secretary of Transportation as covered by the Emergency Road Use Permit letter:
• Cattle, • Citrus, • Eggs and Egg products, • Milk and Milk Products, • Nursery Products.
If you plan on transporting these commodities and taking advantage of this emergency order, have this link or print and have it with you during transportation.
POSITION TITLE: AgrAbility Case Coordinator and Project Assistant
CLASSIFICATION: Full Time
DESCRIPTION: The Florida AgrAbility Program (FAP) is a collaborative project between the University of Florida (UF) and the Center for Independent Living of North Central Florida (CILNCF). The AgrAbility Case Coordinator (ACC) works within the FAP and will support farmers and agricultural workers with disabilities who are engaged in farming and the agricultural fields. The ACC will conduct home and worksite assessments and identify ways people with disabilities can continue farming safely and successfully by: providing Assistive Technologies (AT); modifying equipment and work sites; restructuring farm tasks; and identifying resources and services that can aid their independence. The ACC will provide outreach and networking activities throughout the state of Florida’s farming and agricultural community to raise awareness about the FAP and to identify people eligible to receive support from the FAP. The ACC will also provide service coordination between state and local government organizations, agricultural businesses, UF Extension, community-based organizations, and health care providers.
For more information please email Serap Gorucu serapgorucu@ufl.edu
|
Greetings from UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County:
|
Join The FNGLA Tampa Chapter for their Spring Mixer! This is a good time to network and make connections. For information click on the picture below.
UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County is teaching General Standards/Core and Private Applicator Exam Preparation Classes for those looking to pass either the Core section of the Pesticide Applicator License or the Private Applicator Exam or both for those who would like their Private Applicator License. The Private Applicator license allows you to use restricted chemicals, or you can teach the Worker Protection Standards as a trainer for employees. The upcoming class will be on May 11, 2022, at the Florida Strawberry Growers Association Headquarters (13138 Lweis Gallagher Rd., Dover, FL 33527. Core class starts at 9:30, and Private starts at 13:00. If you would like to register for just one of the classes, they are $30.00 each; if you would like both classes, they are $50.00.
Classes can also be taken for CEUs with the Core class offering 2 CEUs ((either 482 or 487) and the Private class offering 2 CEUs (either Private, Ag Row, Ag Tree, or Demonstration and Research). If you would like to sign up or for more information please click on the flyer below.
UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County is offering the Worker Protection Standard Train the Trainer Training Class at the Hillsborough County Extension Office in Hillsborough County in Seffner on May 17. This class will award a participant with the WPS Trainer Certificate enabling that person to train employees/workers in nurseries, farms, or forests to protect themselves from chemicals. If you don't have a Private Applicator License you need a WPS Trainer Certificate to employ employees/pesticide applicators/handlers at farms.
If you would like more information, please click on the flyer below.
Harvest Singularity, Inc. is now looking for a qualified person to fill the key role of "Head Grower/VP Production" for our first farm here in Central, FL. This is a key role for our company and hands-on experience in managing CEA Greenhouses is critical.
The Head Grower is a senior leadership position
within the company whose primary role is to manage all aspects of crop
production to achieve best-in-class yields and quality.
Leadership & Management skills are necessary
·
Manage
the growing team on a day-to-day basis, including both technical guidance in
growing topics, as well as mentorship and coaching
·
Create
and sustain a culture of excellence, inclusion, and continuous learning
·
Continuously
foster emergent talent and build the bench of growing talent
Harvest Singularity, Inc farm will be 100% CEA operation so this person must be familiar with all aspects of growing cultivars in this type of indoor facility (hydroponic systems most likely NFT, HVAC systems, nutrient dosing, pest control without pesticides, etc.).
The cultivars grown will include Lettuce, Spinach, Arugula, Kale, and Basil). We are willing to invest to get the best person for this position. We will offer a base salary of +$110k, including an annual performance-based bonus plan, 3 weeks PTO in year one, 4 weeks PTO after the first year, healthcare package (with dental and eye), employee stock option plan, 401k, and other benefits.
The UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics Department is thrilled to announce that the 7th Annual Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference will take place on March 21st, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. It will be held in person at the UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center located at 2725 S. Binion Road, Apopka, FL 32703. There is also a Zoom option available.
This conference will feature a wide variety of topics and will host speakers from a multitude of backgrounds; please see the attached flyer for more information.
$40.00 per person for in-person (includes lunch)
$25.00 per person for virtual
If you would like to attend this even please use the following registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/7th-annual-florida-agricultural-policy-outlook-conference-registration-264383597457
WAS YOUR AGRICULTURE BUSINESS DAMAGED BY FREEZING TEMPERATURES?
Damages may include the loss of real property, equipment, inventory, or working capital OR the inability to pay normal expenses, such as rent, utilities, or fixed debt payments.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and State Emergency Response Team (SERT) have activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey in response to the freezing weather that occurred during the weekend of January 28-30, 2022. The survey will gather information from agriculture businesses affected by the freezing weather and share the results with various local, state and federal agencies to implement appropriate disaster relief programs.
TAKE THE SURVEY TODAY AT
www.FloridaDisaster.biz/BusinessDamageAssessments
Contact For additional assistance, contact 850-245-7112 or esf18@em.myflorida.co
Posts
All Comments
